HeyRuaHow to say “to lie” in Irish
- Irish:
- luigh
- English:
- to lie, go to bed, set, press on
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- luí (ag luí, lying)
- Verbal adjective:
- luite
- Pronunciation:
- “lig” /l̪ˠɪɟ/
What does “luigh” mean?
“Luigh” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to lie
- To be in or get into a flat, resting position, for example on a bed or the ground.Also: lie down, recline.
3 other meanings: go to bed or set or press on
- 2to go to bed
- To go to bed or lie down to sleep.Also: lie down to sleep, retire.
- 3to set
- Of the sun or moon, to go down below the horizon.Also: go down, sink.
- 4to press on
- With 'ar', to apply oneself to something or put pressure on it.Also: apply oneself, bear down.
“Luigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Luigh méI lay | Níor luigh méI did not lie | Ar luigh mé?Did I lie? |
| tú (you) | Luigh túYou lay | Níor luigh túYou did not lie | Ar luigh tú?Did you lie? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Luigh sé / síHe lay | Níor luigh sé / síHe did not lie | Ar luigh sé / sí?Did he lie? |
| sinn (we) | LuíomarWe lay | Níor luíomarWe did not lie | Ar luíomar?Did we lie? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Luigh sibhYou lay | Níor luigh sibhYou did not lie | Ar luigh sibh?Did you lie? |
| siad (they) | Luigh siadThey lay | Níor luigh siadThey did not lie | Ar luigh siad?Did they lie? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Luíodh | Níor luíodh | Ar luíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | LuímI lie | Ní luímI do not lie | An luím?Do I lie? |
| tú (you) | Luíonn túYou lie | Ní luíonn túYou do not lie | An luíonn tú?Do you lie? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Luíonn sé / síHe lies | Ní luíonn sé / síHe does not lie | An luíonn sé / sí?Does he lie? |
| sinn (we) | LuímidWe lie | Ní luímidWe do not lie | An luímid?Do we lie? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Luíonn sibhYou lie | Ní luíonn sibhYou do not lie | An luíonn sibh?Do you lie? |
| siad (they) | Luíonn siadThey lie | Ní luíonn siadThey do not lie | An luíonn siad?Do they lie? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Luitear | Ní luitear | An luitear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Luífidh méI will lie | Ní luífidh méI will not lie | An luífidh mé?Will I lie? |
| tú (you) | Luífidh túYou will lie | Ní luífidh túYou will not lie | An luífidh tú?Will you lie? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Luífidh sé / síHe will lie | Ní luífidh sé / síHe will not lie | An luífidh sé / sí?Will he lie? |
| sinn (we) | LuífimidWe will lie | Ní luífimidWe will not lie | An luífimid?Will we lie? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Luífidh sibhYou will lie | Ní luífidh sibhYou will not lie | An luífidh sibh?Will you lie? |
| siad (they) | Luífidh siadThey will lie | Ní luífidh siadThey will not lie | An luífidh siad?Will they lie? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Luífear | Ní luífear | An luífear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | LuífinnI would lie | Ní luífinnI would not lie | An luífinn?Would I lie? |
| tú (you) | LuífeáYou would lie | Ní luífeáYou would not lie | An luífeá?Would you lie? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Luífeadh sé / síHe would lie | Ní luífeadh sé / síHe would not lie | An luífeadh sé / sí?Would he lie? |
| sinn (we) | LuífimisWe would lie | Ní luífimisWe would not lie | An luífimis?Would we lie? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Luífeadh sibhYou would lie | Ní luífeadh sibhYou would not lie | An luífeadh sibh?Would you lie? |
| siad (they) | LuífidísThey would lie | Ní luífidísThey would not lie | An luífidís?Would they lie? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Luífí | Ní luífí | An luífí? |
“Luigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To lie in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to lie?
The Irish for to lie is luigh (pronounced “lig”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is luí.
What is the verbal noun of luigh?
The verbal noun of luigh is luí, used after ag for the continuous: ag luí (lying). The verbal adjective is luite.
How do you say luigh in the past and the future?
Past: Luigh mé; negative Níor luigh mé; question Ar luigh mé?. Future: Luífidh mé; negative Ní luífidh mé; question An luífidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of luigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Luífinn (I would lie); negative Ní luífinn; question An luífinn?.
Does luigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Luigh can mean to lie, to go to bed, to set or to press on, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What does 'luí na gréine' mean?
'Luí na gréine' means sunset, literally the lying down of the sun. Its opposite is 'éirí na gréine', sunrise.
How is 'luigh ar' different from plain 'luigh'?
'Luigh ar an leaba' means to lie on the bed, but 'luigh ar an obair' means to set about the work energetically.
